Sydney Swans v Geelong
2nd semi-final, SCG, September 9, 2005
As the time-clock ticked down in the final quarter, not even the most optimistic Swan supporter gave the red and white any hope of defeating Geelong in what eventually would become one of the most remarkable finals in VFL/AFL history.
The Swans had managed just two goals to Geelong’s five over the first half and not even a goal in the third quarter could lift Swan spirits, with the Cats still leading by 17 points at the final change.
To make matters worse, Geelong early in the final quarter stretched its lead through a goal by Steve Johnson.
How would the Swans, who had managed just three goals to that stage, breach the Geelong wall for four goals to steal the match?
Johnson had scored his goal through a lapse of concentration by Swan forward Nick Davis and club co-captain Brett Kirk told him in encouragement rather than anger: “You owe us one”. Davis repaid the debt in full, with interest.
He bobbed up with a snapped goal from a tight angle and followed up with another goal following a strong mark 50 metres from goal.
The Swans now had a lifeline and when Davis kicked his third goal of the quarter, from a snap following a boundary throw-in, they trailed by just three points.
Fans roared themselves hoarse as the Swans again pushed the ball forward for a ball-up just 15 metres from goal.
Swan ruckman Jason Ball gave Davis a signal of where he was going to try and hit the ball – a set play they had practised at training so many times that they knew precisely what they had to do.
Ball’s tap was perfect and although Davis did not take the ball cleanly, he managed to get his boot to it for a remarkable goal.
Uproar! The fans did not know it, but there were just two seconds to play, just enough time for the umpires to restart play and no hope of a comeback Geelong goal.
Late radio broadcaster Clinton Grybas shouted into his microphone: “It’s grand larceny, it’s daylight robbery. It’s Ronnie Biggs, it’s Ned Kelly. It’s the greatest thieving effort you will ever see.”
Grybas’ robbery analogy was perfect; the Swans had stolen victory and Davis would have been entitled to wear a mask as he hijacked the loot for a preliminary final berth.
It was one of the most remarkable individual performances in football history, but based on team discipline and demands.
As coach Paul Roos later suggested: “In the context of the game and the context of where the club got to, I rate Davo’s quarter as the best quarter of footy ever played in a final.”
High praise, but Roos’ referral to “where the club got to” was in relation to defeating St Kilda by 31 points in a preliminary final the following week and then West Coast by four points in the Grand Final.
If it had not been for Davis’ heroics in that final quarter against Geelong, the Swans would not have broken their 72-year premiership drought.
As for his winning goal against Geelong, Davis later modestly suggested that Ball had hit the ball perfectly and that he got a few blocks from teammates.
SYDNEY SWANS 2.2 2.6 3.12 7.14 (56)
GEELONG 2.6 5.8 6.11 7.11 (53)
TEAM STATISTICS
| K | HB | |
| Brett Kirk | 13 | 12 |
| Nick Davis | 15 | 9 |
| Jared Crouch | 13 | 10 |
| Amon Buchanan | 10 | 13 |
| Nic Fosdike | 10 | 6 |
| Tadhg Kennelly | 8 | 8 |
| Craig Bolton | 7 | 7 |
| Adam Goodes | 10 | 3 |
| Jude Bolton | 7 | 5 |
| Ryan O'Keefe | 10 | 2 |
| Ben Mathews | 7 | 4 |
| Michael O'Loughlin | 6 | 5 |
| Leo Barry | 5 | 5 |
| Paul Williams | 5 | 5 |
| Barry Hall | 5 | 4 |
| Luke Ablett | 6 | 1 |
| Darren Jolly | 2 | 4 |
| Lewis Roberts-Thomson | 5 | 1 |
| Adam Schneider | 4 | 1 |
| Sean Dempster | 4 | 1 |
| Jason Ball | 1 | 3 |
| Paul Bevan | 2 | 2 |
